Office of Public Affairs

March 02, 1999

UA President picks Lind to head UAF

March 2, 1999 NR 99-4

University of Alaska President Mark R. Hamilton today named Marshall L. Lind, who has been chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau since 1987, to become the fourth chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, succeeding Joan K. Wadlow who will retire at the end of June.

"I am delighted that we were able to find exactly the right person for this job at this important time of transition and growth for the University of Alaska Fairbanks," Hamilton said. "The statewide mission of UAF will be well-served by Dr. Lind who has lived and worked in all regions of the state during his 30 years of public service as a school teacher, administrator, state Commissioner of Education and university faculty member and executive."

The UAF chancellorship will become vacant at the end of June with the retirement of Dr. Joan K. Wadlow, who has been chancellor since 1991. Hamilton praised Wadlow for the fine job she's done under very difficult financial circumstances for most of the 1990s.

"Under Dr. Wadlow's leadership, UAF positioned itself well for the beginning of the 21st Century," he said. "She completed a successful $12 million private fund-raising campaign, which was the first for the university, and most recently she helped launch the current $20 million UA museum expansion campaign. During her time as chancellor, other private gifts to UAF have created more than 50 new endowed scholarships."

Hamilton added that Chancellor Wadlow's retirement took him by surprise, and he was pleased to be able to fill her position from within university ranks. "We're very lucky to have a person with the right background, experience and energy to step right in."

Details regarding when Lind will officially assume his new position, and how much he will be paid, are being worked out, Hamilton said. At UAS, Lind is paid $127,000 per year. There may be an announcement later this week regarding Lind's replacement at UAS.

Lind served as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education from 1971 to 1983, and again from 1985 to 1987. Beginning in 1983, Lind was a visiting professor of education at UAS and in 1985-86 he was dean of the School of Extended and Graduate Study at UAS.

Lind received his Ph.D. in educational administration from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and his master's in education from the University of Montana in Missoula.

From 1969 to 1971, Lind served as superintendent of schools for the Kodiak Island Borough School District. In addition, Lind has been a teacher and supervisor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Kwigillingok, Goodnews Bay and Emmonak, Alaska.